Programme Associate

Details

Mission and objectives

FAO MRT organization mission TBD

Context

Farmer Field School (FFS) is an approach based on people-centred learning. Participatory methods to create an environment conducive to learning: the participants can exchange knowledge and experience in a risk free setting. Practical field exercises using direct observation, discussion and decision making encourage learning-­by­-doing. The field is the space where local knowledge and outside scientific insights are tested, validated, integrated, in the context of local ecosystem, and socio-economic. Community-based problem analysis is the entry point for a FFS group to develop a location specific curriculum. A growing range of technical topics is being addressed through FFS: soil, crop and water management, seeds multiplication and varietal testing, IPM, agro pastoralism, aquaculture, agroforestry, nutrition, value chain, and link to markets, etc. FAO and other development organizations have been promoting FFS to address a broad range of problems and technical domains in over 90 countries. A Farmer Field School offers space for hands-on group learning, enhancing skills for critical analysis and improved decision making by local people. FFS activities are field based; include experimentation to solve problems, reflecting a specific local context. Participants learn how to improve skills through observing, analysing and trying out new ideas on their own fields, contributing to improved production and livelihoods. The FFS process enhances individual, household and community empowerment and cohesion. In Mauritania the FAO is implementing several projects with FFS components that aim to enhance the capacities of the agro-pastoral community (both women and men) to participate in the identification, development and implementation of technologies and market linkages in the regions of Brakna, Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimakha Those projects work with producer groups to enhance the production and sustainable management through the dissemination of tools and technologies for improved production that will include • Processing equipment: manual or animal-powered mills to process cereals such as millet, sorghum, maize, wheat, and rice; manual or mechanized grater for onions; • Tools to transport the harvest to markets (carts, carriages); • Manual cultivation tools: shovels, harrows, sorter and cleaning machine. Those projects will also integrate the development and promotion of SHEP approach to empowering smallholder horticultural farmers through market-oriented agriculture through a partnership between FAO-Mauritania and JICA to promote a change in farmers' behaviour from "produce and sell" to produce to sell and thus enables them to improve their own incomes and motivates them to make farming a business; This Programme provides a learning opportunity to the participants to supplement their academic knowledge with a practical work assignment in a field related to the work of FAO. Through the FAO internship experience, interns will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and FAO's Strategic Framework to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (programme), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:  Support the preparation of searches and literature reviews on FFS and SHEP ap-proaches;  Ensure close monitoring and ensure community participation in all project activities;  Assist with the set-up and implementation of the project M&E system.  Support the implementation of stakeholders’ engagement plan  Support the elaboration of manual cultivation tools,  Organise farmers survey and capacities evaluation of the agro-pastoral community;  Perform any other task related to the terms of reference or deemed necessary for the achievement of the project objectives;